Danny Friedman KC and Anita Davies have been acting for Disabled People’s Organisations (‘DPO’) at Module 2 preliminary hearings held by the Covid-19 Inquiry during March 2023. They are instructed by Shamik Dutta and Charlotte Haworth Hird of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors. Their clients are Disability UK, Inclusion Scotland, Disability Wales, and Disability Action Northern Ireland. Modules 2, 2A, 2B and 2C of the Inquiry will look at political and administrative decision making during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initial submissions have highlighted how Disabled people were differentially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in three main areas: the increased risk of poor outcomes from the disease itself, reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation, and the adverse social impacts of efforts to mitigate the pandemic. The DPO have made submissions on the need for the Inquiry to examine the foresight, extent and cause of those differential effects. They have also highlighted a human rights approach to understanding Disabled people’s predicament during the pandemic that is informed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘UNCRPD’).
Useful link(s)
- Written submission Module 2 (concerning the UK), see here
- Written submission Module 2A (concerning Scotland), see here
- Written submission Module 2B (concerning Wales), see here
- Written submission Module 2C (concerning Northern Ireland), see here
